Nationwide public warning test on December 10
Today, on December 10, the Estonian Rescue Services Agency will conduct public warning system EE-ALARM test. All public warning channels will be activated, including sirens.
What channels will be activated?
- Around midday, a text message (SMS) will be sent to mobile phones with advance information about the test.
- Between 15:00 and 15:10, alerts will be sent via the Eesti app and the “Ole valmis!” mobile application.
- Around 15:00–15:10, public warning ticker messages will appear on ERR channels (ETV, ETV+, ERR.ee website and the “ERR News” app).
- Sirens will sound between 15:00 and 15:10.
Important to know about the test:
- Inform your family members, especially children and the elderly, that it is only a test and there is no real danger.
- To receive public warning message via mobile apps, download the Eesti app or the “Ole valmis!” app and enable notifications. The sender of the app notifications and SMS messages will always be EE-ALARM.
- You can find more detailed information about the EE-ALARM public warning system on the website www.olevalmis.ee, where you can also listen to the siren sound.
- Sirens are intended to alert the people who are outdoors and may not be heard indoors. Other channels are used to alert people indoors.
- On the day of the test, continue your normal daily activities.
- Help improve the public warning system: after the test, provide your feedback on the website www.kriis.ee. This will help the Rescue Service assess the overall functionality of the system and identify possible shortcomings.
Why is testing necessary?
In a real emergency, the public warning system must work flawlessly. It is important to check the reliability of the system and ensure that recent improvements and updates function as intended. The Estonian Rescue Service Agency will continue to test different public warning channels, either together or separately, more frequently in the future. You can give feedback about the test on the kriis.ee website.
Sirens may be heard in the following locations:
Ahtme, Haapsalu, Jõgeva, Jõhvi, Keila, Kohtla-Järve, Kuressaare, Kärdla, Maardu, Narva, Paide, Paldiski, Pärnu, Põlva, Rakvere, Rapla, Sillamäe, Tallinn and its surrounding densely populated areas (including Tabasalu, Harkujärve area, Saue and Laagri, Peetri, Saku, Viimsi), Tapa, Tartu, Valga, Viljandi, Võru.
Map of siren locations in Estonia:
FAQ about alarm system testing
Testing the public warning system is essential to ensure it works properly before being used in a real crisis situation. The purpose of testing is to verify whether alerts reach people as intended through different channels. It also helps identify technical issues that could hinder the delivery of alerts via various channels. In addition, testing allows us to assess the system’s reliability under conditions of high load or disruptions. It improves cooperation between different parties, such as government agencies and service providers, and raises public awareness about the nature and use of public warnings.
No. During the December test, we will focus primarily on mapping the development needs of the siren network. We will determine whether the network needs to be made denser or whether we can proceed with expansion. For this, we will measure the sirens’ audibility zones using sound pressure devices. People, institutions, and businesses do not need to make any special preparations for the activation of the public warning.
Owners of buildings and sites with siren poles have already been notified in advance. Sirens are installed in locations that are not accessible to the general public. We have sent instructions on how to report if maintenance or construction work is planned near the sirens. Daily life can continue as usual.
Yes. Educational institutions must inform their students, staff, and, in the case of children, their parents about the public warning test. Teachers can discuss public warnings in more detail with children and young people: https://www.olevalmis.ee/ohuteavitus-ehk-ee-alarm. The head of the educational institution is responsible for organising the notification.
The state will announce the public warning test through public media channels and via SMS. Additional information is available at olevalmis.ee, kriis.ee, and by calling the national help line on 1247. Educational institutions will share preliminary information about the warning to parents through various school information platforms.